Delivery door for ice vending machines



June 26, 1934. TENCH 1,964,605

DELIVERY DOOR FOR ICE VENDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l w 5.5.121 DH Jr 2 flaw /; /7 /5 I ETDENE'YE.

June 26, 1934. TENCH 1.964,605

DELIVERY DOOR FOR ICE VENDING MACHINES Filed NOV. 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Izaak l :B M A, .7 7

A )(u 3/7 M Patented June 26, 1934 T OF'FlCE DELIVERY DOOR FOR ICE VENDING MACHINES George E. Tench, Huntington Park, Calif., as-'- signor to Central Ice and Cold Storage Company, Huntington Park, Califl, a partnership composed of John L. Zeigler and Cecelia M.

Zeigler Application November 27, 1931, Serial No. 577,653

9 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing mechanisms, and more especially to a delivery door for dispensing apparatus, by means of which articles to be dispensed may be delivered from the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor within the housing of a vending machine or other type of dispensing apparatus adapted to discharge articles through an opening in the housing, and having a closure associated therewith in such a manner that the door is automatically opened when the conveyor is energized, and is retained in open position as long as operation of the conveyor continues, after which the door is automatically closed.

Another object is to provide a novel door or closure construction and means associated therewith for clamping the door tightly against the wall or other structure containing the opening 'which is to be controlled by the door. The purpose of this structure is to develop a tight seal between the closure and the wall, and thereby prevent air, dust, and the like, from entering the housing. This feature particularly adapts the present invention for use in conjunction with machines for vending ice, inasmuch as it serves to prevent warm air from entering the housing of the machine, wherein the temperature is maintained considerably lower than that of the out- 30 side atmosphere.

35 of operating with a high degree of efiiciency in performing the functions for which it has been designed.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the inventions particular embodi ment which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional viewtaken through a portion of a vending machine housing, and showing a delivery door and conveyor of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line 22 of Fig. l, with the direction of View as indicated. A portion of the figure is broken away to reduce its size.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view 5 taken through a portion of thehousingand showing in side elevation the door which is in tightly closed position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the door released and in readiness to be opened.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the hydraulic cylinder and plunger whereby the door is actuated.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the door, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical medial sectional view of the quick return valve associated with the hydraulic mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view in horizontal section, taken upon the line 8-8 of Fig. 3, with the direction of View as indicated.

Whereas the delivery mechanism of the present invention has been designed primarily for use in conjunction with machines for vending blocks of ice, it should be understood that I do not wish to be limited to this use of the device of the present invention, inasmuch as it is adapted for use in connection with other types of dispensing apparatus. However, in its preferred form, the door of the present invention is adapted to control an opening 11 in a wall 12 of a housing 13, inside of which the atmosphere is maintained at a temperature below the freezing point of water, so as to prevent melting of the blocks of ice 14 which the machine is intended to dispense. For this purpose the walls 12 of the housing 13, its floor 16, and roof (not shown) are preferably suitably insulated against entrance of heat to the interior of the housing, this preferably being accomplished by means of cork 17 or other suitable heat insulative material, between spaced panels 18 of which each of the walls 12, floor 16, and roof are composed.

A door 21 is associated with the opening 11, and is adapted to be moved optionally into or out of registry therewith. Preferably, the door 21 is also of double wall construction, having a filler 22 of heat insulative material. The door 21 is mounted for sliding movement upon the inner face of the wall 13 within which the opening 11 is formed, being guided in vertical movement by a pair of opposed angle irons 23 rigidly mounted upon the inner face of the wall 12 as by brackets 24. Each of the angle irons 23 embraces one of the inner, vertical corners 26 of the door 21, as best shown upon Fig. 8.

The apparatus for moving the door is preferably hydraulically controlled, and comprises a cylinder 27 having a plunger 28 (see Fig. 5) therein, this plunger preferably being equipped with a suitable cup washer 29 and having its rod 31 extending through a suitable stuifing box 32 at the upper end of the cylinder 27. The rod 31 of the plunger 28 is connected by a bar 33 to a lift rod 34 which extends slidably through the bracket 36 whereby the cylinder 27 is supported. The bracket 36 also is rigid with the inner surface of the wall 12, being secured either directly to the wall or to one of the brackets 24 whereby the guiding angle irons 23 are supported. From the bracket 36 the lift rod 34 extends downwards to a position adjacent the inner face of the door 21, but instead of being rigidly secured to the door, it extends slidably through brackets 33 on the door, as clearly shown upon Figs. 3 and 4. Ac-

cordingly, the lift rod 34 is permitted a limited amount of movement relatively to the door, as will be explained hereinbelow.

A rock shaft 41 is journaled upon the inner face of the door 21 by means of suitable brackets 42. This'shaft extends perpendicularly with respect to the lift rod 34, and is slightly longer than the width of the door 21, each end of the shaft 41extending beyond the associated side edge of the door (see Fig. 6). The rock shaft 41 is provided with a crank 43 rigid therewith, the outer end of which carries a pin 44 which extends laterally on both sides of the crank 43. The lift rod 34 is also provided with a pin 46 extending on both sides thereof parallel to the pin 44, and these pins are interconnected by links 47. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that when the lift rod 34 moves upwards relatively to the door 21, the tension thus imposed upon the links 47 causes the crank 43 to be pulled upwards, thereby rotating the rock shaft 41 in a clockwise direction as viewed upon Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The upward motion of the lift rod 34 with respect to the door 21 is limited in any suitable manner, for example by a collar 48 adjustably secured to the rod 34 by a set screw 49 or its equivalent.

A crank 51 is mounted rigidly upon preferably each end of the rock shaft 41 in such position that when the lift rod 34 is in its upper extreme of motion with respect to the door the cranks 51 extend horizontally and toward the wall 12 within which the opening 11 is provided, as clearly shown upon Fig. 4.

Each'of the angle irons 23 is provided with a guide or socket 52, preferably in the form of a relatively short piece of channel iron, of which the side flanges 53 are flared outwards at their upper ends 54, thereby providing a tapering throat leading into the associated guide 52. These guides are so positioned that they are adapted to receive portions of the cranks 51, preferably rollers 56 which are mounted upon the free ends of the cranks. When the door 21 is lifted from its lowermost position, its weight is imposed upon the lift rod 34, the result being that the door is slid downwards upon the rod until the collar 48 engages the associated bracket 38. When in this position the cranks 51 are disposed horizontally, as explained hereinabove, and the rollers 56 of the cranks 51 are in alinement with their respective guides or sockets 52.

Hence, as the door is lowered, the rollers 56 enter the sockets 52, assuming the position illustrated upon Fig. 4. When the door moves into registry with the opening 11, the lower edge 5'7 of the door will come into engagement with any suitable stop means, preferably by engaging the floor 16 of the housing, thereby preventing further downward motion of the door 21. The lift rod, however, continues to move downwards, causing the links 47 to turn the crank 43 and the rock shaft 41 in a counterclockwise direction. This raises the cranks 51 from horizontal position substantially to the position illustrated upon Fig. 3. Inasmuch as the rollers 56 of the cranks 51 are prevented from varying their distance from the wall 12, this rotation of the cranks 51 causes the rock shaft 41 to be pulled toward the wall, thereby pressing the door 21 tightly against the wall around the opening 11, or against a suitable gasket 53, which preferably is provided in position to be engaged by the door so as to establish a suitable tight seal between the door and the wall. In order to insure that the door will be clamped againstthe gasket 58 tightly, I have provided a relatively heavy weight 59 which is suspended from any suitable portion of the lift rod 34, thereby insuring that the rock shaft 41 will be turned with suflicient force to clamp the door tightly against the gasket as the lift rod 34 moves downwards after completion of the downward motion of the door 21.

Inasmuch as the door 21 is raised by means of the lift rod 34, the reverse operation of the rock shaft 41 and cranks 51 must take place before the door is raised, causing the cranks 51 to swing back to horizontal position and thereby pushing the door away from the gasket 58 before it is raised.

Fluid under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 27 from a suitable pump 61 by means of a conduit 62 which leads to the lower end of the cylinder. Hence, whenever the pump 61 is energized, fluid will be supplied to the cylinder below the plunger 28, causing the plunger to be raised and thereby 1L first releasing and then raising the door, as hereinabove described. I prefer that the cylinder 27 be also provided with two overflow conduits 63 and 64. The conduit 64 is closely adjacent the extreme upper end of the cylinder, and leads therefrom to the reservoir 66 from which the 23 is above the point at which the conduit 63 communicates with the cylinder 27, the fluid supplied to the cylinder by the pump will merely flow into the cylinder at its lower end and out through the conduit 63, thereby avoiding necessity of providing a safety valve or similar structure, and preventing building up of pressure by the pump 61 after the door has been raised to its maximum elevation. The conduit 63 also leadsback to the reservoir 66. v

I prefer that the pump 61 be contained within the reservoir 66 and completely immersed in the reserve supply of fluid 67 therein.

Instead of being connected directly to the conduit 62, the pump 61 discharges into a quick re- 1 turn device indicated in its entirety at 71 and illustrated in detail upon Fig. '7. This quick return device comprises a housing '72 having a chamber 73 therein, with which an inlet port '74 and two outlet ports 76 and 77, communicate. A

conduit 78 leads from the pump 61 to the inlet port '74, and the conduit 62'leads from one of the outlet ports, preferably the outlet port 76 which is in the upper side of the housing 72, to the lower end of the cylinder 27. A reciprocable plunger 79 is provided within the chamber 73,

and is urged by a spring 81 or its equivalent into that position in which it closes the inlet port 74, as illustrated upon Fig. 7. The plunger 79 is provided with a tubular extension 82, which serves as a guide for the plunger by extending slidably through the outlet port 77, which is diametrically opposite the inlet port 74. The tubular extension 82 is provided with a plurality of openings 83, which just clear the inner end of the port 77 when the plunger 79 is in position to close the port 74, as clearly shown upon Fig. 7. The plunger 79 is adapted to open the port 74 by moving inwards with respect to the chamber 73. Hence, when the pump 61 is energized, forcing fluid under pressure through the conduit 78, the plunger 79 is forced inwards, sliding the tubular extension 82 across the housing and causing the openings 83 in the extension 82 to enter the port 77. Hence, the fluid which is supplied to the housing 72 by the conduit 78 can leave the chamber 73 only by way of the conduit 62 which leads to the lower end of the cylinder 27. However, as soon as the pump 61 stops, and thereby ceases supplying fluid under pressure to the conduit '78, the spring 81 will force the plunger 79 back into that position in which the inlet port 74 is closed, and in which the openings 83 in the tubular extension 82 establish communication between the two outlet ports 76 and 77. This permits the fluid which is contained within the cylinder 27 below the plunger 28 to flow backwards through the conduit 62 into the chamber 73 and escape therefrom by way of the openings 83 and port 77 which discharges into the reservoir 66. Accordingly, the plunger 28 is allowed to fall, lowering the lift rod 34. and door 21 to closing position.

Associated with the opening 11 is a conveyor 86 of any suitable type, preferably a pair of parallel, endless chains 87 carried by sprockets 88 mounted upon parallel shafts 89. This conveyor 86 is adapted to conduct the blocks of ice 14 or other articles to be dispensed, from a chute 91 or its equivalent to the opening 11 and to discharge them therethrough. The conveyor 86 is operated by means of a motor 92 which is connected to one of the shafts 89, so that when the motor 92 is energized the shaft 89 will be turned. The pump 61 is connected to the same motor 92, the result being that whenever the conveyor 86 is energized, the pump 61 also is energized, thereby insuring that when the conveyor 86 starts to move the door 21 will be raised, and that the door will be maintained in raised position as long as the conveyor 36 continues in motion. However, as soon as the motor 92 is de-energized, it being understood that one or more of the articles to be dispensed has been discharged through the opening 11 in the meantime, the pump 61 will stop, permitting the door 21 to return to closed position and to be clamped tightly against the wall 12 about the opening 11, as explained hereinabove. It should be explained that the vending machine includes means (not shown) for delivering a predetermined number of blocks of ice 14 to the conveyor 86 each time the motor 92 is energized. Hence, each time the vending machine is actuated, the door 21 will be opened the desired number of blocks of ice 14 or other articles to be dispensed will be deposited upon the conveyor 86 and carried thereby to and discharged through the opening 11, whereupon the motor 92 will stop and the door will be closed and clamped tightly against the wall.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subject to al- 3 teration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination of a housing having a delivery opening therein, a conveyor adapted to discharge articles through said opening, means for operating said conveyor, a closure associated with said opening, means for withdrawing said closure, and means for simultaneously starting and actuating said operating means and said withdrawing means, whereby said door is maintained in withdrawn position while said conveyor is operating.

2. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination of a housing having a delivery opening therein, a conveyor adapted to discharge articles through said opening, means for energizing said conveyor, a closure associated with said opening, hydraulic means for withdrawing said closure from said opening, and a pump operatively connected to said energizing means and adapted to supply fluid under pressure to said hydraulic means when said conveyor is energized.

3. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination of a housing having a delivery opening therein, a conveyor adapted to discharge articles through said opening, means for energizing said conveyor, a closure associated with said opening, hydraulic means for withdrawing said closure from said opening, a pump operatively connected to said energizing means and adapted to supply fluid under pressure to said hydraulic means when said conveyor is energized, and means for rapidly draining said hydraulic means upon de-energization of said conveyor to permit quick return of said closure.

4. In a dispensing apparatus, a conveyor, means providing adoor opening to which the conveyor leads, a door normally closing the door opening, a motor for driving the conveyor, a pump driven by the motor, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, means connecting the door to the piston so that the door may be opened thereby, a supply pipe connecting the pump with the cylinder to transmit fluid pressure from the pump to actuate the piston, means providing a liquid reservoir supplying the pump, and means providing an outlet leading to the reservoir from the cylinder adjacent the position assumed by the piston when the door is open whereby when the motor is energized to drive the conveyor the door will be opened and kept in open position as long as the conveyor is driven, the fluid merely pass ing through the cylinder and through the outlet as long as the door is fully open.

5. In a dispensing apparatus, a conveyor, means providing a door opening to which the conveyor leads, a door normally closing the door opening, a motor for driving the conveyor, a pump driven by the motor, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, means connecting the door to the piston so that the door may be opened thereby, a supply pipe connecting the pump with the cylinder to transmit fluid pressure from the pump to actuate the piston, means providing a liquid reservoir supplying the pump, means providing an outlet leading to the reservoir from the cylinder adjacent the position assumed by the piston when the door is open whereby when the motor is energized to drive the conveyor the door will be opened and kept in open position as long as the conveyor is driven, the fluid merely passing through the cylinder and through the outlet as long as the door is fully open and means providing an outlet in the supply pipe openable upon stopping the motor to quickly drain the cylinder and allow the door to close.

6. In a dispensing device, a conveyor leading to a door opening, a door for the opening, hydraulic means for opening the door and holding it open, means for driving the conveyor, and means operable by the driving means for causing the-hydraulic means to be actuated to open the door and hold it open as long as the conveyor is moving.

7. In a dispensing device, a conveyor leading to a door opening, a door for the opening, hydraulic means for opening the door and holding it open, means for driving the conveyor, means operable by the driving means for causing the hydraulic means to be actuated to open the door and hold it open as long as the conveyor is moving, and means for releasing pressure in the hydraulic means when the conveyor stops moving to allow the door to quickly return to closed posi-. tion.

8. In a dispensing device, a conveyor leading to a door opening, a door for the opening, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, means connecting the piston to the door so that the door may be opened thereby, a motor for driving the conveyor, a pump driven by the motor, a pipe leading from the pump to the cylinder, and means providing an outlet from the cylinder adapted to be exposed by the piston when the piston moves into a position wherein the door is fully open whereby on starting the conveyor the door will be opened and held in open position as long as the conveyor moves.

9. In a dispensing device, a conveyor leading to a door opening, a door for the opening, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, means connecting the piston to the door so that the door may be opened thereby, a motor for driving the conveyor, a pump driven by the motor, a pipe leading from the pump to the cylinder, there being a normally open outlet in the pipe, means for closing the outlet when the pump starts operation, and means providing an outlet from the cylinder adapted to be exposed by the piston when the piston moves into a position wherein the door is fully open whereby on starting the conveyor the door will be opened and held in open position as long as the conveyor moves and upon stopping the conveyor the cylinder may be quickly drained to allow the door to close.

GEORGE E. TENCH. 

